Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

Kali-yuga Doṣas, the Supremacy of Rudra as Refuge, and the Closure of the Manvantara Teaching

Devanagari script

ये नमन्ति विरूपाक्षमीशानं कृत्तिवाससम् / प्रसन्नचेतसो रुद्रं ते यान्ति परमं पदम्

Transliteration

ye namanti virūpākṣamīśānaṃ kṛttivāsasam / prasannacetaso rudraṃ te yānti paramaṃ padam

Translation

安らぎ満ちた喜びの心で、ルドラ――ヴィルーパークシャ、主イーシャーナ、皮衣をまとう御方――に礼拝して頭を垂れる者たちは、至上の境地（最高の住処）へと至る。

Word by Word

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम

• नमन्ति: bow to
• नमन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• विरूप-अक्षम्: Virūpākṣa (the odd/unique-eyed one)
• विरूप-अक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘विरूपे अक्षिणी यस्य’ (he whose eyes are extraordinary/uneven)

• ईशानम्: Īśāna
• ईशानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपाधि/नाम (epithet)

• कृत्ति-वाससम्: the skin-clad one
• कृत्ति-वाससम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘कृत्तिः वासो यस्य’ (he whose garment is a skin)

• प्रसन्न-चेतसः: with serene minds
• प्रसन्न-चेतसः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (कृदन्त; प्र-√सद्) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘प्रसन्नं चेतः येषाम्’ (those whose mind is serene)

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• यान्ति: go/attain
• यान्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पदम्: abode/state
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing the sages (Kūrma Purāṇa narrative voice)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva
• Virūpākṣa
• Īśāna
• Kṛttivāsas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

It points to mokṣa as “paramaṃ padam,” attained through inner serenity and surrender—implying that the highest state is realized when the mind becomes prasanna (clear and settled) in devotion to Īśāna.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes prasannacetastā—cultivating a calm, purified mind—together with namana (reverential surrender). In Purāṇic Pāśupata-oriented language, this aligns with mental purification and single-pointed devotion as a direct means to liberation.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

Within the Kūrma Purāṇa’s integrative theology, liberation is affirmed through Rudra-bhakti while spoken in a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇic frame—supporting a non-rival, complementary vision where devotion to Śiva leads to the supreme goal upheld by the broader Purāṇic dharma.